Skip to main content

Matthew 5:38-43: Greater than the Haters

We have recently moved to Port Alberni, BC. It is a great community. We are getting to know people and enjoying experiencing the things that happen in the community. This is one of the great things about a smaller community. Probably, in part, because of this there is only one movie theatre in town; so every week you can see the same movie as everyone else in town, if you want to.

Last week our family went to see Hotel Transylvania 3;  simply because I hadn't seen one or two I probably wouldn't have gone without the convincing of my family. It was an excellent movie. It was an excellent show in the way that George Reeves' Superman, Clayton Moore's Lone Ranger, and Adam West's Batman were excellent shows: the good guys were actually good guys.

I have seen so many shows on TV and in the movies this century where the 'good guys' are somewhere between as bad as and worse than the 'bad guys'. I have come to expect that the 'good guys' will seek revenge, torture, maim, and or kill the 'bad guys'. I have tuned in to watch more than one show 5 minutes in and so missed the opening scene that provided the supposed justification for the 'good guys' to commit atrocity after violent act after hatred after unforgiveness.

Because of all of this when Hotel Transylvania 3 was nearing its conclusion, I expected the 'bad guy' to die and the 'good guys' to celebrate his destruction. To my surprise and delight the good guy was actually a good guy and he risked his life an limb to save the antagonist. When questioned about his actions he replied, 'we must be greater than the haters'

This is true in our life too. If we do not forgive our opponents and if we are not better than the bad guys than in reality we may also be the bad guys. However, when we forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us then we really will be greater than the haters.
More articles, sermons, and papers at
www.sheepspeak.com

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beware: Christian Junk Food

THIS IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE WE STUMBLED ACROSS BY ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ Why the average believer is starving for something more. By Anne Graham Lotz I love junk food—McDonald's french fries, Auntie Anne's pretzels, and almost any kind of pizza! If I'm not careful, though, I will gain unwanted pounds while getting zero nutrition. Many Christians seem to eat spiritually the way I am tempted to eat physically. They fill up on "junk food"—Christian books, CDs, TV programs, seminars, and all sorts of church activities—none of these are bad, really, but they lead to a sickly spiritual state if consumed apart from the true Bread of Life. We need the real nutritional "food" that will be served one day at the Wedding Supper referred to in Revelation 19:9, food that we can partake of right now as we dig into God's Living Word. For the past 17 years, as I have crisscrossed America, speaking at various conferences and churches, I have become convinced of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

2 Timothy 1:12: Learn to Suffer

2 Timothy 1:12: That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. Today’s thought on 2 Timothy 1:12 is entitled ‘Learn to Suffer’. ‘Learn to Suffer’ is motto of a Scottish Clan. Anyone know which clan? Clan Duncan. The Clan motto is ‘Learn to Suffer.’ Did you know that 2 of the early kings of Scotland were Duncans: One was Duncan I and do you know who was the other? Duncan II. Duncan I obtained the throne through murder and Duncan II lost it the same way. The Duncans would learn to suffer. The Duncans historically weren’t so good at choosing the winning side in important battles. They supported the victorious Robert the Bruce in his wars and received benefits from that. But later they supported Charles I, who was defeated, murdered and his country conquered by Cromwell’s Puritans. In supporting the losing side in this war, the Duncans would learn to suff...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thoughts on a Trip to Ontario Part 5: Conclusion: Be Prepared (2 Timothy 4:2)

2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.   We went to Ontario couple of days before the Celebration of Life. We spent our first two nights in a community called Woodstock because it was within driving distance of Stratford. You know what Stratford is famous for? It’s Shakespeare Festival! That is quite interesting. Do you know the history of the festival? Stratford Ontario, as we know, is named after Stratford, UK. And Stratford UK has a strong connection with William Shakespeare. So the Tom Patterson a few years after returning from World War II started the festival to help revive his home town. It is really worked and the town and the festival are still going and bigger than ever.   Now, we were one week early to actually catch the festival itself but we did get to see one play: Romeo and Juliet . This was especially good because Sarah-Grace was with us and sh...
Post a Comment
Read more